Magny-Cours beckons as Bulega closes in on WorldSBK title. 

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the Acerbis French Round from 4-6 September. As the 2026 season enters its decisive stages, Nicolo Bulega arrives in France with more milestones within reach, including his first mathematical opportunity to secure the WorldSBK Riders’ Championship.

Recent Form and Momentum

• Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) heads into the season’s final four rounds with 491 points. The Italian is currently on a streak of 37 consecutive podium finishes, the longest active streak in WorldSBK.
   
• Teammate Iker Lecuona occupies second place with 358 points. The Spaniard claimed his maiden WorldSBK victory at the previous round in Donington Park and has recently renewed his contract with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati.
   
• Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) completes the current championship top three with 211 points. He holds a 29-point advantage over Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), who has 182 points.
   
• Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completes the top five on 177 points, five behind his brother.

Historical Performance

• Nicolo Bulega has already claimed two WorldSBK wins at Magny-Cours, both coming in 2024. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) is the only other rider on the current grid to have won at the French venue, also with two victories.
   
• Last year, Toprak Razgatlioglu won all three races at Magny-Cours, while Nicolo Bulega and Alex Lowes both claimed three podium finishes.

Private Test

• Honda HRC, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and ELF Marc VDS Racing Team took part in a private test at Magny-Cours ahead of the final stages of the season. Honda HRC and ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team also tested at Estoril.

Medical Updates

• Having both been declared unfit during the UK Round, Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) and Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) will need to pass a medical check before being cleared to race in France.

At Stake This Weekend

• Bulega arrives at Magny-Cours with his first mathematical opportunity to secure the 2026 WorldSBK Riders’ Championship. Holding a 133-point advantage over teammate Iker Lecuona, he would be crowned in Race 2 if he outscores the Spaniard by 53 points across the three races at Magny-Cours.
   
• With 23 wins already this season, Bulega is on course for the second-most successful winning campaign in WorldSBK history. The Italian is now chasing the all-time record of 27 victories, set by Alvaro Bautista in 2023.
   
• Bulega is also one weekend away from equalling Toprak Razgatlioglu‘s all-time record of 11 three-race clean sweeps, having won Race 1, the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 at 10 previous events.

The FIM Supersport World Championship heads to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the French Round from 4-6 September, with four rounds and 200 points still available in the 2026 campaign. Championship leader Albert Arenas faces a key challenge from home rider Valentin Debise as the title fight enters its decisive stages.

Recent Form and Momentum

• Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) heads into the final stretch of the season as the championship leader. The Spanish rider has 291 points and holds an 82-point advantage over ZXMOTO’s Valentin Debise.
   
• Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory) heads into his home round on 209 points and will look to perform in front of his home fans. The Frenchman remains the rider with the most victories this season and will be looking to extend his advantage over Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura), who sits just 14 points behind in the standings.
   
• Having led the championship during the early stages of the season, Masia now occupies third place, with a 17-point advantage over Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing).
   
• Two victories at Donington Park provided a major boost to Tom Booth-Amos’ (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) championship campaign. The British rider remains in contention for a top three finish in the standings, trailing Masia by 30 points.

Historical Performance

• Arenas arrives at Magny-Cours with no previous racing experience at the French circuit. Debise, meanwhile, has a best result of second place at the venue, achieved in 2023, while Masia‘s best finish there is ninth.
   
• Among the current field, Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) and Dominique Aegerter (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) are the only riders to have previously won at Magny-Cours, with Mahias claiming victory in 2019 and Aegerter in 2021.
   
• Tom Booth-Amos and Can Oncu both finished on the podium at the French venue last season.

Private Test

• Several WorldSSP teams headed to Magny-Cours ahead of the round to take part in a private test at the French circuit, including Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing, Honda Racing World Supersport, GMT94 Yamaha and VFT Racing Yamaha.

Salvador leads as WorldSPB heads to Magny-Cours

WorldSPB enters its final phase at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours from 4-6 September, with David Salvador looking to strengthen his championship lead. Behind him, Antonio Torres and Xavi Artigas prepare for a close battle for second place in the standings.

Recent Form and Momentum

• David Salvador heads into the French Round as the championship leader with 164 points scored this season. With seven podiums claimed already, including a win at the most recent round in Misano, the Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI rider has built a comfortable margin at the front. Already a race winner at Magny-Cours in WorldSSP300, Salvador will look to extend his advantage at the French venue.
   
• 34 points behind is teammate Antonio Torres, on 130 points. While his main goal will be to close the gap to Salvador, Torres will also need to defend second place from Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki), who is just one point behind in the standings.
   
• Two-time WorldSSP300 Champion Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) stands fourth with 107 points, 23 behind Torres.
   
• Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) completes the current top five with 99 points.

Historical Performance

• WorldSPB will make its first appearance at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. However, several riders with WorldSSP300 experience are already familiar with the French track. David Salvador, Jeffrey Buis, Matteo Vannucci and Loris Veneman have all previously won at Magny-Cours in WorldSSP300, with Buis holding the record for most WorldSSP300 victories at the circuit with four.